In 1993, Oklahoma ranchers Kenneth and Dianna Adams donated 300 American bison to The Nature Conservancy, setting in motion a conservation effort to restore one of North America's most threatened ecosystems. More than three decades later, the herd has grown to thousands of animals roaming the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve near Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Spanning 39,650 acres, the preserve protects a rare stretch of native grassland where bison grazing and carefully managed fires help maintain the natural balance of the prairie. The animals influence the growth of native plants, create habitats for other species and help preserve the ecological processes that shaped the Great Plains for thousands of years. Their return is particularly significant because less than 4% of the original tallgrass prairie remains.
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